Patients allocated to this group will receive three different neurodynamic techniques: a lumbar foramen dynamic opener; a side-lying slider and a slider in the slump position. Patients will be asked to perform home exercises (a slider and a tensioner technique). Treatment will receive four treatments during two weeks (two sessions/week).

Procedure: Neurodynamic Group

All techniques will be executed in a pain-free way (grade III). Mild discomfort will be accepted, but it must subside as soon as the technique ends.

In the dynamic opener technique, patient will be positioned in side-lying, with the affected side upwards. The therapist will then perform grade III oscillations aiming to open the lumbar foramen;

In the side-lying slider, the patient will be in side-lying with the affected side upwards. A combination of knee and hip flexion and extension movements will produce sliding in the neural structures;

In the slump slider, the patient will be seated in slump position. Combinations between neck and knee movements will produce greater nerve excursion than the side-lying slider. Patients will perform the slump slider in a pain-free manner.

Other Names:

Neural mobilization

Sliders

Tensioners

Nerve tissue management

No Intervention: Control Group

Patients allocated to Control Group (CG) will receive no intervention and will be advised according to the best evidence available; i.e, advice to remain active and to resume activities of daily living

Upon trial completion, treatment will be offered.

Detailed Description:

Nerve-related leg pain (NRLP) although less prevalent than low back pain itself, is associated with higher economic and social burden, and has been considered a predictor of chronicity and disability among subjects with low back pain.

Numerous approaches are proposed for its management; however, evidence regarding the best therapeutic approach is lacking. Neurodynamic techniques are proposed to be effective to manage NRLP.

Thus, this study aims to verify, through a randomized controlled trial, the effectiveness of a two-week program of neurodynamic techniques on pain and disability in individuals with NRLP.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 80 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

unilateral leg pain (Intensity ≥ 3)

Pain distal to the buttocks

Reproduction of symptoms and change in symptoms with structural differentiation (cervical return to neutral position or ankle dorsiflexion) with slump test;

Exclusion criteria:

cauda equina syndrome;

bilateral leg pain;

crossed Lasègue sign;

previous surgery in the lumbar spine;

inflammatory arthropathies;

malignancy

being in litigation or in work-compensation due to back and/or leg pain

being receiving physiotherapy treatment at the time of baseline assessment

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01954199